Val Wiseman swings for the National Jazz Archive!

The British Jazz Award-winning vocalist Val Wiseman presents ‘Divas of Swing’ at an afternoon concert in Loughton, Essex on Saturday 23 July. The show is her tribute to the singers who have inspired her throughout her career, featuring songs performed by Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

She will joined by a wonderful trio – Brian Dee on piano, Len Skeat on bass and Eric Ford on drums.

This concert is one of a series during 2016 to raise funds to support the work of the Loughton-based National Jazz Archive.

Val said: “I’m delighted to be performing at this concert to raise funds to support the great work that the National Jazz Archive does in preserving the history of our music.”

Val is best known for her tribute to Billie Holiday, ‘Lady Sings the Blues’, which has been critically acclaimed since its first performance in 1987 at the Birmingham Jazz Festival, and successfully toured Europe and the UK ever since. Billie’s centenary in 2015 was celebrated with a live recording of the show at the Festival and the album has just been released on Big Bear Records. 

The venue for the concert is Loughton Methodist Church, 260 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1RB, close to the Archive’s home in Loughton Library, where there is extensive parking, 1 km from Loughton Station on the Central Line, and served by numerous bus routes.

The concert starts at 2.30pm and tickets cost £15.

For details and to book tickets, visit www.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/events.

email: events@nationaljazzarchive.org.uk or phone 020 8502 4701.